$46,000 Raised at the 13th annual Fiesta 5k Challenge

On Saturday, April 27, 2019, nearly 700 people came out to Fowler Park to #runLOCO4ALS in the 13th annual Fiesta 5k Challenge. A record fundraising total was set this year as the race raised over $46,000 for ALS research. This event has now passed $330,000 in funds donated to the Emory ALS Center.

The 5k race began on the track at Fowler Park and proceeded onto the beautiful Big Creek Greenway. All runners and walkers enjoyed the peaceful setting in this pretty area maintained by the Forsyth County Parks & Recreation Department. Brian Skoglind was the Overall Winner for the Males and Mia Van Peteghem the Overall Female Winner.

For the Masters it was Brad Sherman and Brenda Christian winning overall. A Fun Run followed the 5k race; children and adults ran up to four laps while spectators cheered for them the entire time.

Janice Overbeck Real Estate Team was the Presenting Sponsor of the race. Other sponsors were Control Southern, Inc., National Distributing Company, Country Charm Eggs, ADVA Optical Networking, MECO of Atlanta, Acapella Design LLC, All Exterminating, North GA Running Co., Tofutti, Blue Diamond, Pacific Resources, Andean Chevrolet, Sign Kwik, and Elevation Rehabilitative Massage. Fifteen teams of fundraisers helped add to the total dollars raised, working for months to get donations from family and friends.

May is ALS Awareness Month and the nonprofit organization, Cure for ALS, hosts the Fiesta 5k Challenge each year to begin the month-long advocacy campaign. ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) is a universally fatal neuromuscular disease that can strike anyone without warning. It takes away the ability to move, speak, swallow, and ultimately breathe, and the average life span after diagnosis is 2 to 5 years. There are approximately 50,000 people in the U. S. living with ALS; over 500 are in Georgia.

All proceeds from the event benefit the Emory ALS Center in Atlanta where they not only study ALS in labs but also treat patients, providing the best care in the Southeast. This combination enables clinician-researchers to gain a better understanding of the disease and give patients the opportunity to participate in clinical trials and cutting-edge treatments. Their slogan, "Celebrate Life, Imagine a Cure" is what they do every day.

The next event for Cure for ALS is the Terance Mathis Celebrity Golf Classic which will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2019 at Legacy On Lanier Golf Club. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Emory ALS Center.